So I said in a previous post I was re-inventing an old idea, ruminating in the dark corners of my creative closet, and was determined to see it realized. What was the idea, you ask? A deck of tarot. A little whimsical. A little off-beat. Definitely not for everyone. But always an accomplishment I’ve desired to call my own. What is tarot? I like to define it as a deck of cards which act, basically, as a map of possible beginnings and endings which an individual tuned to those cards can best interpret. What you may not know about me… once upon a time in a world far, far away… I read tarot cards in a professional capacity. Though it’s a service I no longer offer (at least not widely), I still hold these memories in high regard. There’s something incredibly rewarding about being intimately aware of the questions and concerns of others, and trusted to help or offer guidance. It’s humbling but, beyond that, also an opportunity to consider myself and my own concerns in an introspective manner. The tarot cards, for me, provided a sort of oracle of opportunities, if you will, and outlined endless possible outcomes. To put it simply, it gave me control I otherwise was unaware I possessed. It was empowering and all together one of the most positive endeavors I’ve ever entertained. Unfortunately, I’ve always worked with cards drawn by and designed by others, so constantly felt a sort of disconnect from the symbolism presented. Though the symbolism of cards can be learned or, at the very least, retained to memory, I began to feel a pressing need for an interaction with the tarot that was personal to me and my experiences. Thus was born my “Wheel of the Year” round tarot deck. And, as a result of this idea (and the last week during which I hmm’d and hawed over every detail of every sketch) I give you the “Summer Solstice” card, which is (I might add) the only sketch to survive my precise expectations. Though still unfinished (boring white background, anyone?) it’s mostly suitable for sharing and should (at least mildly) justify my absence from jewelry for the last seven days. Ugh. Seven days. Did it really take me that long to finish one sketch? Sigh. Anyway, I’m excited about the project. I even managed to meander and focus on the book I’ve been writing for the last ….ahem… two years. One whole chapter finished! And 35 other pages of outline. It doesn’t help when I stop to consider every single sentence for 25 minutes, but I’ll get there eventually. Basically, it’s about the creative journey. Whether I finish the cards or not, whether or not that last chapter is ever written, I take the time to enjoy every moment of every line, word or wire my imagination pulls out into the world. As I always say, if you’re not having fun then you’re not doing it right. So, to end this post, I hope you’re doing it right. Because everyone deserves some fun.